Mergers and acquisitions support

If you’re seeking an acquisition to take your business to the next level, considering a disposal to streamline your operations or planning your retirement, our expertise can optimise the value of your transaction.

Many of our entrepreneurial clients have invested much of their lives in growing their businesses and building relationships with employees, customers and suppliers. They may have personal wealth tied up in the business, but their investment is about more than money. We understand that realising a return through a sale or succession can be among the most significant decisions you make.
 
The sale process can be hugely time consuming for organisations and owners. Working alongside our clients, we seek to minimise the impact with thorough preparation and planning. And we’ll help optimise the company’s presentation: the key to driving value.

As seasoned advisers, our experienced team helps lead clients to successful completions, from initial planning and marketing, through due diligence and negotiation to closing and post-deal support.
 
We bring both specialist sector expertise and access to international buyers. Our membership of Oaklins gives access to over 850 M&A specialists and ensures we can access key decision-makers in 45 countries worldwide. In recent years, it’s enabled us to complete cross-border transactions with buyers across Europe and in America, China and Japan, to name a few.
 
Supported by our industry expertise and a dedication to our field, you can turn strategy into action. As well as corporate finance expertise, S&W gives you access to a full range of tax, finance and transactional support.

We never forget we’re working as part of a team with our clients. We’ll always make the effort to understand your key requirements from the sale process beyond maximising the proceeds:

• Advising and exploring potential full and partial exit routes, including trade buyers, financial buyers, and employee ownership, such as through an MBO or employee ownership trust (EOT)
• Ascertaining what attributes of the business might add or detract from the valuation and helping clients maximise the value drivers while considering if value detractors can be addressed in advance
• Curating a process that balances maximising the price with minimising the time the process takes, while seeking to maintain confidentiality and business as usual
• Preparing marketing material, including highlighting the key sales messages, and coordinating the presentation of information throughout the process
• Identifying, contacting and managing prospective buyers
• Working with other advisers, such as lawyers, to bring the deal to a successful conclusion

Organic growth is hard to achieve and can take too long. Acquisitive businesses can quickly diversify into new geographies or services and save the time and costs of innovation, R&D and building new channels and distribution networks. A buy-and-build strategy can significantly accelerate business growth, even for those that have already invested in organic expansion.

Our expert advisers have a track record of supporting strategic and financial buyers with acquisitions, management buyouts, joint ventures and mergers.

Whether you’re a UK firm looking to expand overseas or an international business considering a UK presence, a clear understanding of the opportunities available will open new horizons for your business. Our global coverage gives you a world of opportunities to expand into new markets and rise above your competition.